[nfbwatlk] [Fwd: Positive media coverage for King County Elections (Seattle Times and Seattle PI)]

Wed Nov 8 23:04:46 CST 2006

Hi,
That was good.  Is your name Kristine or Kristina?  I am confused.
thanks
Lauren
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "kris Lawrence" <kris.lawrence at comcast.net>
To: "NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 07, 2006 9:38 AM
Subject: [nfbwatlk] [Fwd: Positive media coverage for King County Elections 
(Seattle Times and Seattle PI)]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Positive media coverage for King County Elections (Seattle
Times and Seattle PI)
Date:
From:

Seattle Times/Letter to the Editor
*County elections office has retooled effectively *

The madness of the 2004 governor's election is in our proverbial
rearview mirror. But I fear many races with local power hanging in the
balance might still be ahead of us today.

Undoubtedly, the political fallout of the last governor's race was
certainly a wake-up call for King County Elections. But in that same
span of time, the staff has worked tirelessly to fix the problems in the
last election cycle, to instill voter confidence and to ensure that the
results of this year's election won't be mired in recounts.

The King County Elections system isn't perfect. Very few organizations
of this magnitude and scope are anymore. But the dedicated staff has
come a long way, accepted that responsibility and retooled the systems
accordingly.

Voting is our duty, our right and our privilege. It is also a
responsibility that King County Elections helps us to fulfill. For that,
they deserve our support, recognition, and -- above all -- gratitude.

*Dana Robinson Slote*
Seattle

*SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
*http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/291315_ballot07.html

*Secret ballot available to more voters*

/Tuesday, November 7, 2006/

*KRISTINA LAWRENCE*
GUEST COLUMNIST

Twenty-six years ago the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 was the
first piece of legislation to break down barriers to employment,
building access, transportation and services. These legal guarantees are
important but don't change the fact that, until this year, having a
disability didn't guarantee the right to cast a secret ballot.

As a person who has been blind for 22 years, I've relied on family
members and friends to accurately complete my ballot and make my voice
heard on important issues, such as funding for schools and public
transportation. In 2004, Washington residents like myself learned how
important voting was, with just 129 votes separating the top two
candidates in the closest gubernatorial race in U.S. history.

It wasn't until this past September during the primary that I, for the
first time, truly cast a secret ballot -- my own ballot. It was the
first time that I, as an American citizen and voter, felt the privilege
of voting and knowing that my vote was truly private.

The Help America Vote Act, which requires one accessible voting unit or
electronic voting machine at every polling place across the country,
takes accessibility for everyone beyond the Americans with Disabilities
Act. For the first time in history, voters who are blind will be able to
cast their vote privately with the use of new audio ballots. And for the
first time, voters with limited hand dexterity can use a touch screen to
cast a ballot independently.

Citing security concerns, local and national critics counseled against
implementing the Help America Vote Act. To me, forbidding access to
voting in the name of security is to say that it is impossible to have a
secure and accessible election. I do not feel the two ideals are
mutually exclusive.

Security procedures, poll worker training and audits serve as safeguards
for accessible voting equipment.

# Each accessible voting unit in Washington is equipped with a
voter-verifiable paper audit trail that prints a paper copy of your
ballot choices to confirm your choices before casting your ballot. The
paper record of your vote is securely stored and only accessed for an
audit or recount.
# Only King County Elections has access to program equipment used for
voting and counting ballots and memory cards are programmed and sealed
before Election Day to prevent tampering.
# Accessible voting units in King County have no wireless components. The
units are not networked to each other, nor are they connected to the
Internet or an intranet. Procedures in place ensure the accessible
voting units are completely isolated throughout Election Day.
# And finally, the day after the election, 4 percent of all machines
deployed on Election Day will be selected at random by political party
observers and thoroughly audited in the presence of observers and the
public. Official election staff will compare the electronic and paper
tally of ballots.

As a member of King County Elections' community advisory board, and a
voter who is blind, I applaud the efforts my elections department has
made to protect my private vote. With strict procedures in place,
rigorous poll worker training and post-Election Day audits, I'm
confident that when I go to the polls today my vote will be secure and
counted.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

/Kristina Lawrence of Seattle is the president of the National
Federation of the Blind of Washington, Seattle chapter./

_____________________________

Dana Robinson Slote

Director of Communications

University of Washington

School of Dentistry

(206) 616 - 0827

www.dental.washington.edu <http://www.dental.washington.edu/>

*Campaign UW: Creating Futures*

****

_Washington_ summer research program broadens (ADA News, October 26 –
Dr. Timothy DeRouen quoted)
<http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/pubs/adanews/adanewsarticle.asp?articleid=2167>

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